Prepayment product or service dispenser

ABSTRACT

The apparatus comprises a post anchored to the ground including a closable compartment containing a removable coin box, and a container attachable to the post. The post comprises means for concomitantly opening the compartment, extracting the coin box from the compartment and releasing the container from the post for access to internal means included in the post and the container. The apparatus has only a single entrance for access to the coin box compartment and internal means, thus providing effective protection to the interior of the apparatus at low cost.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant thereby makes cross references to his patent applicationPCT/FR 85/00 333, filed Nov. 25, 1985 and claims priority thereunderfollowing the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 119.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a prepayment product or servicedispensing apparatus comprising a post anchored to the ground andincluding a closable compartment containing a removable coin box, and acontainer attachable to the post.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The dispensing apparatuses concerned by the invention are, for example:

dispensers of products such as photocopies, transport tickets,confectionary, newspapers, books, cigarettes or coins, and

dispensers of services such as telephone communications, to whichreference will be made in a preferred embodiment described subsequently,or parking authorization times, or games.

All these apparatuses comprise mechanical and electromechanical devices,part of which are contained in the post and part of which are containedin the container, and have at least two entrances locked by key whichserve as access to internal devices of the apparatus. One of theseentrances is a pivoting door closing the coin box compartment which isoften partitioned off from the other devices contained in the post.Another entrance is a container door or a locking device allowing a partof the container to be removed.

In addition, the majority of these apparatuses have a large number ofprojections or salient surfaces making it easier to break into theapparatus using a tool as a lever arm. In particular, a tool may be usedin this way to force the door of the locked compartment, since the dooris pivotable.

Furthermore, a person in charge of removing the coin box and maintainingthe apparatus must performs several distinct and often complexoperations in order to open the compartment, remove the coin box andgain access to the interior of the post and the container. Theseoperations are often long and painstaking because of the measures takento improve the security and the robustness of the apparatus.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatusdoing away with the above mentioned disadvantages, in particular,offering but a single entrance for access to the coin box compartmentand the internal devices of the apparatus, and only requiring a singlecontinuous operation to extract the coin box and release the containerfrom the post. The fact that there is only one entrance, such as thecompartment door, provides effective protection of the inside of theapparatus at a lower cost. When the container and the post are robustand free of projecting points, the apparatus is practicallyvandal-proof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a dispensing apparatus such as defined under the "field ofthe invention" is characterized in that it comprises means forconcomitantly opening the compartment, extracting the coin box from thecompartment and releasing the container from the post for access tointernal means included in the post and the container.

According to features of the invention, the apparatus comprises a meansfor simultaneously translating the coin box and a door closing thecompartment towards the outside of the post, and means controllable fromthe open compartment for releasing the container from the post. Thetranslating means is pivotable when the coin box and the door areoutside the post and is connected to the releasing means. Pivoting ofthe translating means causes release of the container in relation to thepost via the releasing means. A collecter may thus in a single andcontinuous operation translate the coin box outwards by opening the doorof the compartment and pivot the translating means to release thecontainer from the post and, in particular, to raise the container abovethe post in order to remove the full coin box and repair internaldevices in the post and/or container.

According to other features of the invention, the apparatus comprisescontact means operating working mechanically in conjunction with asurface of the coin box and/or a portion of the compartment door inorder to signal abnormal absence of the coin box in the compartmentand/or abnormal opening of the compartment respectively. This signallingmay be performed by means of a loudspeaker emitting an audible alarmsignal and/or by means of a telephone transmitter transmitting an alarmsignal through a telephone line to notify surveillance service, such asthe police.

According to another feature of the invention, the security of access tothe compartment is improved by a counter-door fixed against the doorclosing the coin box compartment. A contact means cooperating with aninternal portion of the counter-door is provided to signal abnormaldistancing of the counter-door in relation to the door.

When the dispensing apparatus is in particular a public telephoneapparatus equipped with a telephone handset having a removablemicrophone and a removable earpiece, and with a flexible cord connectingthe handset to the post, the invention provides a means of to a largeextent avoiding tearing off of the handset and theft of the capsules,whilst enabling a collector to replace faulty handset capsules. For thispurpose, the apparatus comprises means controllable from the inside ofthe compartment for separating said microphone and earpiece capsulesfrom the handset. Preferably, the separating means comprises meanssliding within the handset and disengageable from the capsules, and atraction cable, preferably sheathed, passing through the cord. The cablehas a first end attached to the sliding and disengageable means and asecond end accessible inside the compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The other features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed description of several preferredembodiments of the invention with reference to the correspondingaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical front view of a service dispensing apparatus suchas a public telephone apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of the telephone apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional vertical side view showing adrawer carrying a coin box, slidable and pivotable in a coin boxcompartment of a telephone apparatus post, as well as a device forreleasing an upper container of the telephone apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional top view of the compartment withcoin box drawer, door and counter-door;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the door and counter-door after break-in;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a base fixed to an upper partof the post, capped by the container and supporting in particular coinchutes located within the post;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a telephonehandset including a sliding frame to join removable microphone andearpiece capsules of the handset;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sliding frame in positions allowing removaland joining of the capsules;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic view showing meansaccessible from the interior of the post for pulling the sliding framevia a traction cable guided in a flexible cord connecting the handset tothe post; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a keyboard fixed to theinside of the apparatus container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of a prepayment dispensing apparatus for servicessuch as telephone communications is described hereinafter. The apparatusthus constitutes a public telephone apparatus.

As schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus takes the form ofa vertical hollow column having a rectangular horizontal cross-section.The height of the column as well as locations of parts of apparatusmembers accessible to a user are determined according to ergonomiccriteria. The column is made of, in a lower part, a monobloc post 1 ofreinforced concrete or steel and, in a higher part, a monobloc hollowcontainer 2, also made of a hardwearing material such as stainlesssteel. The post 1 is solidly anchored to the ground. The container 2caps an upper part of the post 1 formed by a base 10.

In a front panel 20, the container 2 comprises different orifices andmembers used by the user to establish and break a telephonecommunication. Preferably, a telephone communication may be prepaid bymeans of a magnetic or electronic card and by means of coins, either ofthese payment modes able to be used by the user at the beginning of orat any moment during the telephone communication. In addition, thetelephone apparatus may establish outgoing communications and receiveincoming telephone communications. Thus the front panel 20 of thecontainer 2 comprises a slot 21 for inserting a card, slots 22 forinsertion of various coins, for example 1 FF, 2 FF, 5 FF and 10 FFcoins, and a perforated surface 23 behind which is located an audio packfor "free-hands" use and comprising a microphone and an amplifiedloudspeaker. The loudspeaker enables a call tone to be broadcast to calla user. The front panel 20 of the container also has suitable orificesthrough which are inserted twelve keys 240 of a dialling keyboard 24 andan orifice through which is inserted a refund pushbutton 25. Pressing inpushbutton 25 triggers breakage of telephone communication, and ejectionof a card through slot 21 or refunding of coins in a refund dish 11accessible on a front panel 12 of the post 1. On the upper part,container 2 has a downwards sloping top panel 26, from and a rear panel27 to front panel 20, forming a console with front surround 260.

The container 2 completely covers a chassis 28 attached to the top ofbase 10. The chassis is typically formed of iron uprights andcross-members, as schematically shown in FIG. 3. Chassis 28 supportsvarious mechanical and electromechanical means housed in the containerand generally designed for establishing and breaking a telephonecommunication, such as the audio pack with loudspeaker and microphonealready mentioned, electromechanical card reading means, andelectromechanical coin sorting and testing means as well as storagepending collection or refund. A case, described later on with referenceto FIG. 10, contains electromechaniccal means, such as keys andcontacts, of the dialling keyboard 24 and the refund button 25, and isattached to container 2.

As schematically shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in more detail in FIG. 3,post 1 comprises a compartment 3 containing a removable coin box 4 andopened by a door and lock mechanism 5 in the front wall 12 of the post,a locking device 6 for joining the container 2 onto the post 1 andseparating the container from post 1, a telephone handset 7 with trigger70 and a release mechanism 8 for separating a removable microphonecapsule 71m and removable earpiece capsule 71e from handset 7. On theside of post 1, a hook 72 is provided for the handset 7. When thetrigger 70 is pressed, the microphone and the loudspeaker located behindthe perfored surface 23 are disconnected from the telephone line servingthe telephone apparatus, and microphone 71m and earpiece 71e of thehandset are connected to the telephone line.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the coin box compartment 3 comprises asheet metal chassis 30 into which slides a drawer 31 receiving the coinbox 5 and equipped with door and lock mechanism 5.

The chassis 30 is generally of a hollow parallelepipedic shape, open tothe top and front and located between an internal face 130 of a rearwall 13 of post 1 and a rectangular opening 120 made in the front wall12. A vertical rear side 301 of the chassis is attached to the wall 13by means of studs 302 one end of each of which is split and buried inthe post and the other is threaded and receives a locking nut. A frontend of a bottom 303 of chassis 30 rests on a horizontal side of opening120.

The chassis 30 is equipped with two hollow pivoting arms 304 whichextend horizontally when the drawer 31 is not pulled fully forwards aswill be seen hereinafter. Back ends of arms 304 are articulated aroundhorizontal pivots 305, parallel to walls 12 and 13 and fixed to upperrear ends of longitudinal vertical sides of the chassis 30. In the arms304 are slidably mounted two parallel arms 310 of drawer 31 extendingrearwards. Arms 304 have vertical U-shaped cross-sections with facingflanges. Longitudinal sides of arms 304 forms webbings of the U-sectionsand have horizontal slits forming slides, extending above horizontalribs 306 of chassis 30. Free rollers 311 with horizontal rotation axlesare mounted at the rear of the arms 310 of the drawer and are designedto roll in the horizontal slits 3040 and on the ribs 306 when the arms310 slide in arms 304 in the horizontal position. In addition, twohelicoil spings 307 having front ends joined to stop washers 308 andrear ends hooked onto pivots 305 slide coaxially at the rear of pivotingarms 304.

The front of sliding arms 310 project from a coin box receptacle 312 indrawer 31. Receptacle 312 has also a parallelepipedic form similar tocoin box 4 and comprises two horizontal struts 313 on which two lateralshoulders 40 of the coin box 4 rest. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the coinbox 4 has two lateral handles 41 for lifting the coin box up of thereceptacle 313 when the drawer is drawn to the exterior.

The door and lock mechanism 5 is attached to a vertical front wall 314of the drawer 31, forming a shielded door to compartment 3. A lock 50 ofa known type is fixed through the shielded door 314 with, along theinside of its rear side, two pairs of vertically sliding and opposedlockbolts 51 cooperating with two clasps 52 attached to an internal side121 of the front wall 12 of the post and located above and below theopening 120.

The mechanism 5 also comprises means for triggering an alarm before anyattempt to break into the shielded door 314 and the lock 50. The alarmtriggering means comprises a hollow counter-door 53 consisting of astamped metal plate. The counter-door 53 is attached to the shieldeddoor 314 by means of distortable metal fasteners 54 contained inside thecounter-door, as shown in FIG. 4. The metal fasteners 54 are stripsfolded into a concertina shape and each having 540 fixed to a frontinside vertical face 530 of the counter-door by means of a threaded rodwelded to side 530 and taking a nut, and a rear end 514 riveted orwelded to the shielded door 314, in order to prevent the fasteners beingdisassembled from the exterior.

In normal condition, the fasteners 54 flatten the counter-door 53parallel against door 314, as shown in FIG. 4. A electric contact 55housed in an upper side of the opening 120 cooperates with a horizontaltab 56 attached to the counter-door 53. When the drawer 31 is insidecompartment 3 and an outside side 531 of the counter-door 53 is coplanarwith an outside side 122 of the front wall 12 of the post with the bolts51 being engaged in clasps 52, the contact 55 is kept closed on tab 56.

If an ill-intentioned person attempts to gain access to the lock 50 andthe door 314, he must first pull forwards the counter-door 53 and thusstretch the fasteners 54, as shown in FIG. 5. The counter-door 53 isthus separated from the shielded door 314 and the tab 56 is moved awayfrom the contact 55 which then switches to open and triggers alarmtransmission. Opening of contact 55 controls an alarm device housed inthe post 1, and/or triggers transmission of a special signal to a localtelephone central office serving the telephone apparatus via the alarmtelephone transmitting means and the telephone line. The alarm isbroadcast in the form of a strident audible signal through the alreadymentioned loudspeaker, and/or the local central office alertssurveillance services, such as police. Thus, well before actual forcingof the coin box drawer 31, the alarm is given. The counter-door 53 canbe economically returned to its normal position against door 314 simplyby restoring the fasteners 54 to their original shape.

In addition, it is noted that the counter-door 53 protects the lock 50against insertion bodies, and that fracture of the lock would require along tool in order to pass through the key insertion hole 532 in thecounter-door 53.

With reference to FIG. 3, the coin box compartment 3 is opened in twosteps for removal of the coin box 14 and a third subsequent step foraccess to the inside of the post 1 and container 2.

At the beginning of the first step, a coin box collector inserts a keythrough hole 532. The key penetrates lock 50 and is turned to releasefrom the clasps 52 the bolts 51 which come together vertically. Thesprings 307, at first compressed, expand to push stops 308 forwards adistance of a few centimeters L₁, the rear ends of arms 310 sliding inhorizontal arms 304. After relaxation of springs 307, the front 53-314of the drawer 31 projects from the front wall 12 of the post and enablesthe collector to grasp the drawer and pull it to the exterior.

It is to be noted that the presence of springs 307 allows a check to bemade to ensure that the compartment 3 is correctly closed by verifyingthat the front 53-314 of the drawer is flush with the side 122. If thedrawer is not locked with lock 50, the springs 307 will push the drawerout, and the tab 56 will be clear of the opening 120 and there willtherefore be no closure of the door contact 55.

At a second step, the drawer 31 is pulled out a distance L₂ until thecoin box 4 is in front of side 122 and can be removed from thereceptacle 312 using the handles 41. A second electric contact 57attached to the inside side 121 of the front wall 12 of the post isclosed when pressed by the top 42 of the coin box 4 inside thereceptacle 312 with the drawer closed. The contact 57 is thus opened atthis second step, and signals coin box removal. Similarly, closure ofcompartment 3 by pushing and locking drawer 31 but without it containinga coin box, also keeps contact 57 open. Contact 57 open thus signalsthat the coin box is missing from compartment 3, and contact 57 openwith contact 55 closed signals that the coin box is missing after thecompartment has been closed. Contacts 55 and 57 are connected in series,and consequently, opening of contact 57 also triggers broadcasting ofthe audible alarm and/or transmission of an alarm signal to the localcentral office. In particular, removal of a full coin box by thecollector not followed by insertion of an empty coin box into receptacle312 and closure of the compartment by pushing and locking the drawer issignalled. In other embodiments, electric contacts 55 and 57 may bereplaced by photoelectric cells or magnetic contacts.

It will be noted that the telephone apparatus comprises a first"passive" electronic equipment housed inside post 1 which allows thepower supply to be cut off from the electromechanical card reading andcoin sorting and testing means as soon as the compartment is opened, inorder to make it impossible to establish a telephone communication. Inaddition, the local central office is linked to a second "active"electronic equipment which controls broadcasting of the alarm throughthe loudspeaker and transmission of the alarm to surveillance servicesonly outside perdetermined coin box removal periods. These twoelectronic equipments will not be described and do not enter in thescope of the invention.

During the second step corresponding to pulling out of drawer 31, therams 310 slide forwards in pivoting arms 304 which are held horizontalby the rollers 311 rolling and resting on horizontal ribs 306 of chassis30. After removal of coin box 4, when rollers 311 are forwards of thefront edges 3060 of the ribs 306 and only rest on the slits 3040, thedrawer 31 may then be lowered by an angle α₃ of about 20°, by pivotingarms 304 about horizontal pivots 305. This third step allows thecontainer 2 to be released from the post 1 and access to be gained tothe inside of the post 1, by means of the locking device 6 describedbelow and located in post 1, between the base 10 and the chassis 30 ofthe compartment.

As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the base 10 has the shape of aparallelepipedic block mounted on the upper edges of the walls of post 1and closing it off. Subtantially at the center of base 10 and parallelto walls 12 and 13 of the post are provided three adjacent narrowrectangular slots 101₁, 101₂ and 101₃ into which are inserted a coinrefund chute 102₁, a coin collection chute 102₂ and a printed circuitboard rack 102₃ respectively. The tops of chutes 102₁ and 102₂ and rack102₃ are attached to the base 10 or rest on the base, and the restprojects vertically beneath base 10 and above chassis 30. The chutes andthe rack are made of sheet metal or plastic. Regions of the chutessubjected to impacts and frictions from the coins are preferablyreinforced with metal plates.

Chutes 102₁ and 102₂ are located beneath electromechanical switchingmeans located at the level of the coin storage zones and included in thecoin sorting and testing means attached to chassis 28 in container 2. Alower end of chute 102₁ converges towards the bottom in the direction ofthe refund dish 11. A lower end of chute 102₂ converges towards thebottom above a coin reception slot in coin box 4, when the latter isinside the compartment 3 with the drawer 31 locked. As can be seen inFIG. 6, the collection chute 102₂ abuts vertically against a duct 103containing electrical cables. The cables notably connect contacts 55 and57, the telephone line, the microphone and earpiece of handset 7 andphotoelectric or magnetic coin passage detectors 104₁, 104₂ and 104₃ tothe electronic circuits on the printed circuit boards housed in rack102₃. Rack 102₃ in particular contains the electronic circuitsconcerning the audio circuit of the telephone apparatus, the cardreading means, the coin sorting and testing means, the dialling keyboard24 and the passive equipment already mentioned.

The three detectors 104₁, 104₂ and 104₃ are located at three differentlevels along the lower vertical end 105 of chute 102₂ placed above thecoin box and only allowing collection of one coin at a time. Thedetectors take part in the validation of coin collection so that thiscan be signalled to the active equipment associated with the localcentral office via the telephone line. Passage of a coin along a routeother than normal descent through the switching device and coin box, forexample following fraudulent extraction of a coin from the coin box, isalso detected.

Base 10 also comprises two lateral recesses 106, designed to receivecomplementary portions, such as feet, of container 2 so that it can beeasily grasped when released from the post, as will be seen hereinafter.Between the recesses 106 and the ends of the slots 101₁, 10₂ and 101₃there are two small lateral crossing mortises designed to receive thegreater part of locking device 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the locking device 6 comprises two vertical linkrods60 having lower ends 61 hinged on pivoting arms 304, and upper ends 62,in the shape of an angle bracket, sliding in the mortises 107 of base10. In each mortise 107, the locking device 6 comprises two levers 63each having two arms 630 and 631 on either side of an elbow 632 with anangle of about 120°, are rotatably mounted around a horizontal axle inthe mortise 107. A free end of the first arm 630 of each lever 63connects with the upper end 62 of the linkrod 60 and has a roller 633sliding in an oblong horizontal slit in the bracket-shaped end 62,extending parallel to walls 12 and 13. A free end of the second arm 631of each lever 63 slots into a small horizontal groove 290 beneath alower part of the container 2, forming a tenon 29, sliding in therespective mortise 107 of base 10 and complementary to the mortise.

As shown by heavy lines in FIG. 3, when the pivoting arms 304 of chassis30 of the coin box compartment 3 are horizontal, the upper end 62 of thelinkrod 60 is in a raised position and is substantially flush with theupper horizontal surface of the base 10. The first arms 630 of the twolevers 63 in each slit 620 form an angle of about 60° with an apexpointing upwards, and the second arms 631 are horizontal and hold thetenons 29 in the mortises 107 so that the lower part of the container 2surrounds the base 10 and so that container 2 is locked onto post 1.

At the beginning of the third step defined above, the drawer 31 ispulled forwards so that the rollers 311 are no longer supported by theribs 306 of chassis 30 and abut against the forward ends of the slots3040 of arms 304. The drawer 31 is then pivoted downwards around thepivots 305, for example the collector may use his foot, until the lowersurface of the coin box receptacle 312 stops against the front lower endof chassis 3 in opening 120, as shown by mixed lines in FIG. 3. Thedrawer 31 has thus pivoted by angle α₃. The pivoting of the arms 304pulls the linkrod 60 vertically downwards, as shown by the mixed linesin FIG. 3. During pivoting of the drawer, the levers 63 in each mortise107 turn in opposite directions by an angle of about 60° following thepulling downwards of the rollers 633 by the upper end 62 of the linkrod60. Simultaneously, the second arms 631 turn upwards and approach thevertical in order to raise container 2 by pushing against the tenons 29and disengaging the free ends of arms 631 from the grooves 290, whichreleases the container 2 from the post 1. At the end of the third step,the lower part of the container 2 is substantially touching the base 10.Container 2 may then be removed from chassis 28 so that access is gainedto the devices on chassis 28 and the collector can pass his hand throughopening 120 in the post to access a pull-ring in device 8 for releasingthe microphone and earpiece capsules in handset 7.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, ends of the handset 7 comprise two tappedbosses 73m and 73e into which the microphone capsule 71m and theearpiece capsule 71e are screwed respectively. Beneath threaded sectionsof cylindrical portions of capsules 71e and 71m are provided annulargrooves 74e and 74m which are located beneath the bosses 73m and 73e andinside an internal cavity 75 of the handset 7, when the capsules arefully screwed into the bosses.

The grooves 74e and 74m on the capsules work together with a flatrectangular blocking frame 80 of the device 8 which is slidably mountedbetween guides 76 preformed in the cavity 75 and perpendicular to theaxes of the capsules and bosses. In a position blocking capsules 71m and71e, small flat sides 81m and 81e of frames 80, forming bolts, areengaged in the grooves 74m and 74e respectively, by means of twohelicoil springs 82 vertically surrounding thin longitudinal sides offrame 8, sliding in guides 76. One, 820, of the ends of each spring 82is anchored to the cavity 75 of the handset on the 73m boss side, andthe other end, 821, of each spring 82 is attached to the frame 8 on the73e boss side, which pushes frame 8 from boss 73m towards boss 73e.

In the end of handset 7, on the 73m microphone boss side, a strongflexible metal cord 77 penetrates, and protects six conductor wires 770which connect the microphone, the earpiece and a relay contactcontrolled by trigger 70 to the telephone apparatus audio circuit. Anend of the cord 77 is attached to the handset by a stop ring 780 joinedto a branch of a U-shaped yoke fixed in cavity 75, under boss 73m.Another branch of the yoke 78 is fitted with a stop ring 781 pinching asheath 830 of a traction cable 83, this cable having an end 831 attachedto bolt 81m. Cable 83 is positioned at the centre of cord 77 and issurrounded by conductor wires 770. The traction cable 83 helps tostrenghten the telephone cord 77, the better to withstand attempts torip out the handset 7.

As shown in FIG. 9, a second end of the protection cord 77 passesthrough a bushing 140 attached to a vertical side wall 14 of post 1, bymeans of an external collar 141 and an internal nut 142 passing throughwall 14. The second end of the cord 77 is attached to the inside of post1 by means of a stop ring 143 joined to bushing 140. The nut 142 alsoenables a U-yoke 144 to be flattened against the internal side 145 ofwall 14. Yoke 144 has two horizontal branches 146 and 147 having upwardsvertically folded ends. The vertical end of branch 146 supports a stopring 148 for a second end of sheath 830 of the traction cable 83 whichleads from stop ring 143 jointly with the conductor wires 770penetrating the vertical duct 143 just beneath the base 10. The secondend 832 of the traction cable 83 leading from ring 148 is fixed to apull-ring 833.

When a repairer wishes to replace one or other of the handset capsules71m and 71e, the coin box compartment 3 is opened, as previouslydescribed, by pulling out the drawer, so that the repairer can inserthis hand between the wall 12 of post 1 and the shielded door 14, beneaththe drawer 31 and through the opening 120 (FIG. 3), and thus grasppull-ring 833. The ring 833 is pulled to exert traction on cable 83which slides in the sheath 830, over a length L₄ greater than the depthof the annular grooves 74m and 74e, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Frame 80slides on the guides 76 from boss 73e towards boss 74m so as to freebolts 81m and 81e from grooves 74m and 74e respectively, as shown inmixed lines in FIG. 8. The traction exerted on cable 83 against thereturn force of the springs 82 is maintained by hooking the ring 833over the second branch 147 of yoke 144, which forms a hook. In thiscase, capsules 71m and 71e may be unscrewed from bosses 73m and 73e tothe handset by unhooking ring 833 from hook 147, bolts 81m and 81e willengage in grooves 74m and 74e on the new capsules by the relaxation ofthe springs.

However, it should be noted that unhooking ring 833 from the hook afterremoval of capsules 71m and 71e does not prevent new capsules from beingscrewed in. Indeed, capsules 71m and 71e have conical pointed lower ends78m and 78e immediately below grooves 74m and 74e. When the capsules arescrewed in, pointed ends 78e and 78m gradually push aside bolts 81m and81e, in a similar manner to the traction on cable 83, until grooves 74mand 74e are at the same level as the frame 80. In any case, because ofthe force exerted by springs 82 engaging bolts 81m and 81e in grooves74m and 74e, it is impossible to remove capsules 71m and 71e from thehandset 7.

As already stated, only the dialling keyboard mechanism 24 is attachedto front panel 20, inside the container. The refund andend-of-communication pushbutton 25 and the contacts it controls are laidout in the same way as the key and contacts of the keyboard mechanism24. With reference to FIG. 10, the keyboard mechanism is enclosed in aprotective case 241 fixed against the wall 20 by means of a perforatedbacking plate 242, forming a grille, by means of bolts 243 which can notbe seen from the outside. Grille 242 forms an integral part of container2 and may be welded to the inside of it. Each key 240 has a T-shapedhorizontal cross-section whose branches make a prismatic block whichrecesses into a hole 245 made in the wall 20 of the container, and whoseleg 246 slides through a hole 247 in the backing plate 242. Extractionof the keys 240 from the outside is prevented by means of pins 248 whichpass through the legs 246 of the keys and slide along slots made inrecesses 249 in the case 241. The recesses 249 each contain aconventional key return spring and respective contacts. The refundbottom 25 is similar to keys 240 and is also protected against beingtorn off by a pin mounting assembly.

Although the invention has been described as based on a public telephoneapparatus, the majority of the essential devices and mechanismsbelonging to the object of the invention, such as the translatable andpivoting drawer 31, the door and lock mechanism 5 of the coin boxcompartment 3 and the device 6 for locking container 2 on post 1, may beadapted to any prepayment product or service dispenser. When thedispensing apparatus comprises a keyboard, this may be as described withreference to FIG. 10.

What I claim is:
 1. A prepayment product or service dispensing apparatuscomprising a post anchored to the ground and including a closablecompartment containing a removable coin box, and a container attachableto the post, characterized in that the post comprises means forconcomitantly opening the compartment, extracting the coin box from thecompartment and releasing the container from the post for access tointernal means included in the post and the container.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means forsimultaneously translating said coin box and a door closing thecompartment to the outside of the post.
 3. Apparatus according to claim2, characterized in that the translating means comprises a drawersupporting said coin box and said door and sliding in slides within thecompartment, said drawer abutting against first ends of the slides whenthe coin box is in the compartment and said door closes the compartment,and said drawer abutting against second ends of the slides when the coinbox and the door are outside the compartment.
 4. Apparatus according toclaims 2, characterized in that it comprises means for locking the dooronto the post and means for pushing the translating means out of thecompartment as soon as the door is unlocked from the post.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the compartment comprisescontact means working mechanically in conjunction with a surface of thecoin box for signalling absence of the coin box from the compartment. 6.Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprisesmeans, preferably housed in the container, for broadcasting an audiblealarm signal when the coin box is absent from the compartment, and/ormeans, preferably housed in the post, for transmitting an alarm signalvia a telephone line when the coin box is absent from the compartment.7. Claim according to claim 1, characterized in that the compartmentcomprises contact means working mechanically in conjunction with aportion of a door closing the compartment for signalling opening of thecompartment by the door.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7,characterized in that it comprises means, preferably housed in thecontainer, for broadcasting an audible alarm signal when the compartmentdoor is opened and/or means, preferably housed in the post, fortransmitting an alarm signal via a telephone line when the compartmentdoor is opened.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in thatit comprises a counter-door fixed against a door closing thecompartment, and in that the compartment comprises contact means workingin conjunction with an internal portion of the counter-door to signalthe cover door moving away from the door.
 10. Apparatus according toclaim 9, characterized in that a external side of the counter-door isflush with a external side of the post when the door and thecounter-door close the compartment.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 9,characterized in that counter-door is fixed to the door by distortablemeans, such as bendable metal fasteners.
 12. Apparatus according toclaim 9, characterized in that it comprises means, preferably housed inthe container, for broadcasting an audible alarm signal when thecounter-door moves away from the door, and/or means, preferably housedin the post, for transmitting an alarm signal via a telephone line whenthe counter-door moves away from the door.
 13. Apparatus according toclaim 1, characterized in that it comprises means controllable from theopen compartment for releasing the container from the post. 14.Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the releasingmeans comprises a linkrod housed in the post and having an end locatedin the compartment and a second end under the container, and meanspartly engaging in the container and connected to the second end of thelinkrod for raising the container above the post when the first end ofthe linkrod is lowered in the compartment.
 15. Apparatus according toclaim 14, characterized in that the raising means comprises at least alever rotatably mounted around an axle fixed to the post and having afirst end sliding in a slot in the second end of the linkrod and havinga second end engageable in the container to lock the container onto thepost and disengageable from the container to raise the container abovethe post.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that thecontainer comprises a tenon subjacent to the container, and the postcomprises a subjacent base fittable into the container and having amortise to receive said tenon, said tenon comprising a groove engagingwith the second end of said lever.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 2,characterized in that the translating means pivotable when said coin boxand said door are outside the post, and is connected to the releasingmeans, pivoting of the translating means triggering release of thecontainer from the post by means of the releasing means.
 18. Apparatusaccording to claim 3, characterized in that said slides are connected tothe releasing means and are pivotable in the compartment when the draweris substantially in abutment against said second ends of the slides. 19.Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the drawercomprises arms sliding in said slides, fitted with rollers which rolland rest on tracks fixed to the compartment when the drawer istranslated and which are cleared of said tracks when the drawer and saidslides are pivoted.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterizedin that said first end of said linkrod is hinged to one of said slides.21. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises abase which fits under the container and through which passes a coinrefund chute, a chute to collect coins into the coin box, and anelectronic circuit rack, said chutes and said rack being accessible fromthe compartment.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized inthat the post contains a coin collection chute along which are locatedmeans for detecting abnormal routing of each coin to be collectedbetween said coin box and said container.
 23. Apparatus according toclaim 1, characterized in that it comprises a keyboard having keyspartly recessing from the outside into a wall of the container andpartly removable mounted inside a case attached to an internal side ofsaid container wall.
 24. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising atelephone handset equipped with a removable microphone capsule and aremovable earpiece capsule, and a flexible cord connecting the handsetto the post, characterized in that it comprises means controllable fromthe inside of said compartment for separating said microphone andearpiece capsules from the handset.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 24,characterized in that the separating means comprises means sliding whichsaid handset and disengageable from said capsules, and a traction cable,preferably sheathed, passing through said cord and having a first endaccessible inside the compartment.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 25,characterized in that the compartment comprises means for hooking asecond end of the cable and keeping it stationary when the sliding anddisengageable means is disengaged from the capsules.
 27. Apparatusaccording to claim 25, characterized in that the sliding anddisengageable means comprises a frame sliding inside the handset, and aspring means for engaging portions of the frame in grooves in thecapsules, said traction cable being pulled to free said portions of theframe from the capsules.
 28. Apparatus according to claim 24,characterized in that the capsules have ends pointed and locatedimmediately below the portions of the capsules which engage with theseparating means.